Letters and Testimonials from Friends of UBS Kathryn, Just a quick email to say thanks for the outstanding effort... I must admit to being a little nervous about using yourselves as you seemed to be the smallest / newest centre in the BVI according to the internet. My doubts were totally unjustified. We have dived all over the world but I have never before anywhere experienced the level of service provided by yourselves. Keep it up guys, hope to see you again soon. Neil & Jane (FTR), Wed, 1 Aug 2001 Katie - I just wanted to thank you again for all you did to make our trip to the BVI's so enjoyable. Besides being the happiest, nicest, "bank-robber-catcher" I have ever met - you also run a great dive shop. Everything you told me about our boat Aristocat was also on the money. We have been to the BVI's 6 times and have never had the service and attention to detail that we received from you and your shop. We are returning in March with another group, and I have already told them there is only place we will be dealing with to get our dive equipment - UBS. Thanks for the great equipment, the great service, and the wonderful attitude. We will be back many times - and will tell everyone we can about the best dive shop in the islands. See you in March - keep the waters safe - you're the best! David Gates, November 16th 2001 Hi Tony & Kathryn, Back home after a great week in the BVI seeing the sights and diving the reefs. I wanted to thank you again for accommodating Lorry and myself with Scott for three dives last Sunday. I am getting my slides back today and hoping for some great images. Thanks again, Linda Gettmann November 17th 2001 A belated thanks for the fun rendezvous diving last month. We definitely wanted a small personalized dive operator - the kind that asks "Where do you want to go and when do you want to go there?" Tony and Scott lived up to our expectations of competence and flexibility. I did a nice review for Undercurrent and also sent Ben Davison, the editor, a note about Kate's encounter with the bank robbers. Ben said he was going to print the story in the next issue. Hope you're OK with the publicity. Thanks again, Keith, January 1st 2002 This is from Terry Magrath, Gesina's owner. We all want to thank you both for the professionalism and personal concern/care you exhibited during our crisis yesterday. It is comforting to realize that such help exists when it is sorely needed. We wanted to pay you for your services, but Rocky informs me that you will have none of it. That's not fair, as you did extend yourselves above and beyond the call of duty. We shall retaliate by recommending you to one and all. Thanks, Terry Magrath, Marbelhead, MA , January 28th 2002 Just wanted to again say 'Thanks' for the great day of diving. I really appreciate your hooking me up on short notice and giving me chance to dive. Always a great experience! I continue to recommend you guys to anyone going to the BVIs will not dive with anyone else. You guys are great!!!! I owe y'all a beer on my next visit! Sparky, February 1st 2002 Katie - Thanks again for your patience and help during our certification dives. I had a fabulous time learning and diving with UBS. It's been a week of cold and dark days back here in Chicago and I can't stop thinking about waking up to the sunrise over the blue water. Somehow the view of Oak Street beach on the way home from work, just doesn't compare to your private paradise! Needless to say I am suffering from some "minor" post-vacation depression. In an effort to shrug off this despair Kate and I just booked tickets to Florida over Memorial Day. Supposedly Palm Beach has the best drift diving on the East Coast. We'll see - I'm sure it can't rival my experience in BVI. I just hope I don't end up drifting off with a different dive group in those "less-than clear" waters. While you turned a contained dive flunky into a open water junkie, I am still a little spacey underwater. Thanks again. Hope all is great at UBS. My wife and I wanted to thank you for a great diving experience on March 2 - 3, 2002. Scott was a wonderful dive instructor/guide. Very patient and extremely knowledgeable of the dive sites. We dove on the RMS Rhone, Marie L & PAT, Angel Fish Reef and Pelican Island. This was our best dive experience yet. We will definitely look you up next time we come to the BVI and recommend you to other divers. Thanks again, Hi Kate, As you know, the North sea is not really the place to be when it comes to diving. I might go diving in Malta/Gozo this summer, but to be honest, after I've seen the BVI I'm a "little bit" spoiled, so I rather save my money, and come back to the BVI again. Thanks again for one of the best experiences I've ever had. Say hi to Tony and I will let you know when I'm coming. Hi Tony & Katy, I wanted to say thanks for all your help when I had my accident & cut off the tip of my finger. Remember Katy you drove us to Dr. Coville. You both have been in our hearts. Doing fine, little infection. Scott/Kate, Can't thank you enough for a great diving experience and tour of the BVI beauty earlier this month, we had a great time and have already passed on your names to some friends thinking of a trip next spring; Unfortunately it is now back to work. It's good to be certified Hope to hear from you soon, thanks again, Kate, Just a quick note to thank you and Tony for a great day of diving. Once again your service and genuine enthusiasm in treating your customers is head and shoulders above everybody else I've dived with before. The Cuan Law was great but my memories keep coming back to the dives we did off Virgin Gorda! Keep in touch and when you come up with a new t-shirt design let me know! Hello Kathryn/Tony/Scott, I just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks for making our trip to the Islands so memorable. I was nervous about going diving myself for the first time and was really nervous about letting my son TJ go diving but you all made us so comfortable that it turned out to be the highlight of our trip. I was really grateful of how you took TJ under your wing and made sure he was never out of arms reach. He has the memory of a lifetime and couldn't wait to get home and tell all his buddies about his diving adventure! Once again thanks Kate and Tony and Scott, We just want to thank you for all your help and hard work in making our certification and diving experience such a great one. You guys were perfect for us to begin our diving careers with. We can't wait to get back to Tortola again and to blow bubbles with you guys a few more times. And drink a few beers. Have a safe and successful year. We'll send pictures and some comments for your possible use on your website as soon as we can. Take care, we are back in Texas............ I wanna come back. I had a blast, thanks for taking us all over the beautiful place and showing us a great time. We had a great day with you. Tony, My family and I would like to thank you again for your rapid and professional assistance in our hour of need... We were the Sunsail family that were demasted off Tortola. The speed of your response helped to limit any parental stress (The kids all thought it was a blast..Life jackets on..yep sure no problem ). We high lighted to Sunsail your efforts and suggested they owe you a beer or a 100. We had a wonderful holiday in the BVI and thanks to your efforts the kids have not been put off sailing for life. I hope to buy you a beer on our next trip. All the best We were thinking of you all and decided to drop you a line - next year we will come back down - I am putting together a group to go to Cuba this year in Oct. I cant do both this year - take care Tony and Kate, Thanks again. Can't tell you how much we loved diving with you both. Already trying to figure out how we can get back and try out the new wetsuit! Will send along a CD of any good pictures we get from the diving. OYSTER! Katie,We are safely and sadly home in Texas. Thanks again for the wonderful diving experience. I started the book last night and it is so interesting thanks for recommending it to me. Can you please verify the name of the first dive site, was it Merry go round or Marigold? It was 58 this morning when I woke up but 93 yesterday, this Texas weather is crazy. I will keep in touch and if you could please send me a mailing address. Thanks again and see you next season or maybe in the late fall. Cynthia (first Mate), Capitan Dick and the SEA-YA Crew: Kate & Tony, I want to thank you guys again for all the help you gave us with our scuba certification. We did several others dives the rest of the week. I think we ran into Scott at Bronco Billy's on Tuesday. We didn't realize it was him underwater with all the gear on! Your hospitality was wonderful. The thread of folks through Lynn at the Tamarind Club led us to several new people we wouldn't have met without the recommendation. So, the thread of relationships continues. Thanks again! Tony: Corinne and I have finished the website from our trip to Guana Island, and we wanted to thank you and Scott for taking us out on some really great dives near Guana. We've written up the diving in a section of the website www.scubatreks.com/ubs-diving/index.html Let us know if there are any factual errors about UBS. Maybe next time, we will see that bull shark! Once again, hanks and hope to see you soon! Thanks Tony and company,Attached are some pics that you took of our dives. I'm working on posting the rest on a website for everyone to share.Thanks again for taking such good care of us in the BVI. Hello, This is Courtney Culver. John and I had the extreme pleasure of chartering a boat last week in Tortola. It was the best dive either of us have ever had (John with over 1,000 dives!) It was the best day. Relaxed, warm...unrushed and wonderful!! Thank You!!! We love Scott our Captain!!! Kate, I want to thank you one more time for the incredible time we had diving with you. My wife and I agree that it was one of the best, if not the best, dive experience we have had in our 12 years of diving. You're incredible!! Hey there my name is Reid and I am from burlington ontario Canada. Its been nearly 3 weeks since i visited you great people WAY south of me! I just want to say that the experience you guys provided me with was incredible! Ji(i'm not sure how to spell his name, sorry) was a really great guy to take us out! I was wondering if you guys could pass onto him my e-mail. Dear Katie, The boys and I made it back to California all in one piece. We picked up the certificates at the Moorings desk as promised. I wanted to thank you for the wonderful experience that you provided to my family and I. You have made a lasting and pleasant experience for the rest of your lives. Hey Katie, thanks so much. Hope all is well above and below sea level I found some of those ginger cookies you shared with us...yumyum. though not quite as tasty as after a swim, you know? Take care Neeta,May 6th 2004 Tony, Kate, We had a great time the other day! Thanks so much for the dive. I will always suggest people use you folks! Regards, Hi Tony, Susan & I just wanted to say thanks again for orchestrating such a wonder three days of diving with the gang on Heath & Courtney's boat. We look forward to reviewing the pictures and swapping stories in a few weeks. Please tell Courtney and Heath that we arrived home as originally scheduled to find that Louisville was hammered by storms all week long. We are with out electricity and apparently have been for 5 days. We are not alone, there are as of Sunday 19,000 houses without electricity. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet your better half next time we drop in! Love your site, Thanks again and let us know when you want John and I to run your new boat as your latest dive masters!! Take care, Just wanted to say thanks again for the great afternoon we spent with you last week. Can't wait to see the roll of film you took for us. We'll share some red lip pictures with you if they turn out well - possible additions to your website? We got the credit card fine, thanks for sending that over so quickly. Hello to Katherine. See you next time, Just wanted to thank you and James for 3 great days of diving. We really enjoyed having the boat to ourselves and the special attention you gave us, especially those of us who hadn\'t been in the water in a while. You have spoiled us. Thanks again for making our vacation special. P.S. I love my underwater etch a sketch. I just wanted to thank you all for a wonderful diving experience with Scott in Tortola when we stopped there during our cruise. Since I had not dove in 12 years and my wife was doing her open water referrals, he had to be very patient with us and he was awesome. Our whole experience with your dive shop has been excellent. Your quick responses and return phone calls were truly the sign of a professional business. We don't know many people that visit Tortola, but believe me you will be highly recommended. Thank you very much and hope to visit again, Tony & Kathryn, You guys are great. The professional attitude and friendly approach of Scott and James enhanced the memorable experience. I know we had some logistical challenges with the large group but you handled them with ease and flexibility. The dives were safe and fun. Laurie's bruised finger is healing well - don't under estimate medicinal rum. Hope to see you again soon. Expect to get some referrals from our group. Thanks. Tony, We thoroughly enjoyed the Wreck of the Rhone Dive you guided during our Christmas cruise. We appreciate you shifting your trips and schedule to accommodate our group.We shot fantastic video footage in High Definition. We have dove many places worldwide and never had the experience you provided. We had dove the Rhone before but your expertise, commentary and underwater site explanation made this dive a memorable experience! Your new boat is great and we are strongly recommending you company to all visiting BVI. Thanks once again for meeting our tight timetable. We hope to dive with you again. BVI Trip report Spent December in BVI diving with UBS Their operation is about 8 years old with Tony and Kate the owners. We were lucky enough to do about 8 days diving with Scott as our DM. For those of you familiar with the BVI Scott used to be the head DM at Baskin in the Sun. ( they stole him away about 6 months before Baskin went under and locals tell me his loss was almost impossible to replace) He is a very knowledgeable DM and a great host. UBS specializes in Rendezvous diving ( meeting Sail charters for a day of diving) and limits their boats to 6 people. Prices are reasonable and based on how many in your party as you will have the boat to yourself each day. They let you dive your own profile and based on your experience are quite willing to have you choose the days diving. A full day of two tanks starts at 9:30 with a dive in the morning followed by lunch either ashore or in the boat. A second dive is done in the aft. and you are back on the dock by 3:30. Sites range from Coral Gardens ( great corals and sponges with lots of coral heads to swim through and around) to the Wreck of the Rhone ( 1867 steamer in about 85 feet of water) Don't miss the Rhone its a great night dive and the Reef just around the corner from it is great. In all we dove about 16 different sites around about 80 ft each time. This is not the wall diving of the Caymans or the drift diving of Cozumel. Currents were not strong and swells not an issue. North side diving is not really possible most days during the winter due to waves but there is more than enough to keep you busy on the south side. UBS has freshwater rinses onboard and has a dip tank for cameras. I would not say that BVI is an extreme place to dive but rather a place where families and groups of varying skill levels can have a great time. Ashore there are more than enough watering holes to keep one occupied for many a day and the food was great. I would definitely recommend Brandywine restaurant in the east end as a must for any visitor. Say hi to Davide the owner and ask about his Grappa. ( Italian moonshine) We stayed in a house ashore http://mermaidvilla.com/ and loved it. Jan and Brad the owners are great people and in my opinion it is probably the best place to stay in the BVI. Just below is Long bay east a wonderful mile long "local" beach, which has very few people on it. Snorkeling on the north end of the beach (just below the house a 5 min walk) is good with lots of critters including spotted lobster, Jacks and the Odd tarpon. The turtle grass is a haven for lots of Stingrays and the odd spotted eagle ray. Trellis bay is home to a couple of great bars and eateries and a great place to go for the Full moon party. I found food to be about the same price or a little cheaper than Hawaii with booze decidedly cheaper at about $7.00 a bottle. It is for sure and alcoholics paradise. All in all a great place to visit. Locals are friendly if a bit shy at first. Make a point to begin each conversation with a good morning or How are you and it will make a big difference in how they react. Cherry Creston, BC,Canada January 4th 2004 |
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